Leonard Edwards, 85

October 24, 2013

Leonard F. Edwards, 85 of Ord, passed away Thursday, Oct. 3, 2013, at the Valley County Health System Hospital in Ord.
A Celebration of Life was held Monday, Oct. 7, 2013, at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord. Fathers Josh Brown and Mark Maresh officiated. Cremation followed and a private inurnment was in the Ord City Cemetery, with Military Honors presented by the Ord VFW Post 7029 and American Legion Post 38. Memorials are suggested to the Ord FFA. Ord Memorial Chapel was in charge of arrangements.
Leonard was born May 7, 1928, to Allen and Sarah (Kelly) on a farm near Vermillion, Kan. A few years later the family moved to the Burwell area and in 1943, they moved to the farm 12 miles south of Ord in the Davis Creek area of Valley County.
June 21, 1951, Leonard was united in marriage to Eulalia Edwards at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Ord. Shortly afterwards Leonard joined the United States Army and served until 1953. Upon his return from the service he went into business with his brother, Bob, and together they purchased the family farm from their father.
In 1966, Leonard and Bob separated operations. Leonard continued to farm and ranch until 2003, when his son, Jim, purchased the farm. Leonard and Eulalia moved into Ord and he continued to go to the farm daily until his passing.
Leonard and Eulalia raised six sons, a lot of corn, thousands of cattle and a few pigs and sheep. He was a cattle man through and through and he was in the business his whole life. He knew people all across the country and it would be tough to find an auctioneer that didn’t know him. Some of his happiest moments were spent on a hilltop watching cattle graze and crops grow.
Leonard loved his family, farming and ranching. He enjoyed playing cards and watching Gunsmoke. He hated long hair, loud music and hail! He was a world class “kidder” and there were few people he met that he didn’t give a “hard time” to.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Eulalia of Ord; four sons and four daughters-in-law, Jim and Phyllis of Ord, Jay and Susie of Cozad, Patrick and Gina of Phoenix, Ariz., and Paul and Mindy of Lincoln; 11 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren; two sisters, Lila Evans of Chadron and Beth Vasicek of Council Bluffs; nieces; nephews and too many friends to count.
He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Bill and Mark; and four brothers, Don, Gail, Merl, and Bob.